It was announced today that Dr Alecia-Jane Twigger has been awarded a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship.
These Fellowships are awarded by UKRI to support universities and businesses in developing their most talented early career researchers and innovators. Dr Twigger, a Research Associate in Professor Walid Khaled’s lab at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Pharmacology, is one of 75 "most promising research leaders" recognised today (4 December) by UKRI.
The award offers a minimum of 4 years of full funding (with an optional 3 years’ further funding) to Dr Twigger to start her research group at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge. The group will focus on uncovering more about the biology behind how breastfeeding works and the impact this has on the future health and welfare of the mother and child.
Breastfeeding has been highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival”. A major priority of the WHO is to increase the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months up to at least 50% by 2025. However, many mothers worry about low milk production – a major driver for mothers switching to formula feeding. With funding provided by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, Dr Twigger will establish state-of-the-art models of lactation with the aim of developing and trialling treatments to support low-milk production mothers in partnership with breastfeeding advocates and clinical stakeholders.
Dr Twigger says, “The early postnatal period is often a time of celebration but also of new and unexpected challenges. I hope to support mothers with their breastfeeding journey by furthering research in the field of human lactation. I will work tirelessly to understand why some women cannot produce enough milk and what the origins of breastfeeding complications are.”
Dr Twigger’s previous work has already attracted national attention, showcased by features in The Guardian, BBC Look East television program, Naked Scientist podcast and Cambridge Alumni Festival 2022.
UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said of the awards: "UKRI's Future Leaders Fellowships provide researchers and innovators with long-term support and training, giving them the freedom to explore adventurous new ideas, and to build dynamic careers that break down the boundaries between sectors and disciplines. The fellows announced today illustrate how this scheme empowers talented researchers and innovators to build the diverse and connected research and innovation system we need to shorten the distance between discovery and prosperity across the UK."